Sundar Pichai Positions India at the Center of the Global AI Revolution

Google CEO Sundar Pichai has placed India at the centre of the global artificial intelligence revolution , describing the country’s future in AI as an “extraordinary trajectory” and a potential blueprint for inclusive innovation worldwide. Speaking at the India AI Impact Summit 2026, Pichai highlighted how AI represents the most significant technological shift of our era, capable of transforming healthcare, agriculture, education, and governance at scale.

He noted that India’s strengths a vast digital population, rich linguistic diversity, and world-class digital public infrastructure such as Aadhaar, UPI, and DigiLocker provide a powerful foundation for building AI solutions that serve billions. According to Pichai, AI must work across languages and local contexts while prioritising trust, transparency, safety, and inclusivity to deliver real-world benefits people can rely on.

A major announcement was the India-America Connect Initiative , aimed at strengthening AI connectivity through new subsea cable routes linking India, the United States, and regions across the Southern Hemisphere. The project includes a new international subsea cable gateway in Visakhapatnam and expanded fibre networks connecting global data hubs, improving resilience, speed, and capacity essential for AI and cloud computing.

Pichai also reaffirmed Google’s $15 billion AI hub investment in Visakhapatnam , expected to house gigawatt-scale compute infrastructure and advanced cloud capabilities. The project is poised to generate high-value jobs, enhance India’s digital backbone, and position the country as a major global AI infrastructure hub.

Emphasising inclusive growth, Google unveiled large-scale skilling initiatives, including an AI Professional Certificate Program in English and Hindi targeting students and early-career professionals. Partnerships with Karma Yogi Bharat aim to train over 20 million public servants, while collaboration with Atal Tinkering Labs will introduce generative AI tools in 10,000 schools. Additionally, a $30 million AI for Science Impact Challenge will support global research and innovation.

Pichai stressed that AI delivers maximum impact when developed alongside local institutions, IITs, and government agencies that understand community needs. With expanding infrastructure, talent development, and responsible deployment strategies, India is emerging as a cornerstone of the global AI ecosystem and a leader in democratising technology for the world.